Transportation information using communication network and method thereof

ABSTRACT

The system for processing transportation information using a communication network comprises a customer communication means for performing a direct call connection to a transportation vehicle by the operation of a customer who wants to use a transportation service through the transportation vehicle; a plurality of communication means for transportation vehicles provided with the transportation vehicle for providing a transportation service for performing a direct call connection with the customer communication means; an information database means for storing subscriber information on the plurality of transportation vehicles and communication means of transportation vehicles, connection history information of the communication means of each transportation vehicle and information on a charge as a cost for service of the customer communication means; a host server means in which is operated such that the customer communication means makes a direct call connection to the communication means of the transportation vehicles sequentially according to the predetermined order based on the subscriber information and the connection history information in the information database means; and a data relay means for performing a direct call connection to the customer communication means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present Invention relates to a system for processingtransportation information using a communication network and a methodthereof, and more particularly, to a system for processingtransportation information and a method thereof which can establish theconnection of a customer with a transportation means rapidly andefficiently by using various communication networks, and which candeliver information about mass transportation routes rapidly andcorrectly through a network communication with passengers.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Usually, as means for transporting a passenger located at anunspecified region to a destination, taxi services using passenger carsare generally in common use. In such taxi services, since they has noservice form in which a predetermined route is regularly traveled, thiscauses a regular inconveniency of attracting passengers whileirregularly traveling an unspecified region.

[0005] To solve this inconveniency, recently, taxi call services havebeen established which are operated in a closed manner in unit of a taxicompany. When the position and destination of a customer are identifiedby a consultant through a wired or wireless call with the correspondingcustomer, the consultant attempts to make a wireless call to apredetermined one among taxis owned by the corresponding taxi companyfor establishing the connection of the customer with the taxi.

[0006] Meanwhile, in case of car rental services such as sightseeingbuses or rent cars, a customer can establish a rental reservation of adesired car by making a call to a corresponding rental service companywith one of the phone numbers in a telephone directory or anadvertisement.

[0007] Additionally, in case of a repair company in charge of the repairand inspection of an accident-occurred car, the owner of theaccident-occurred car can connect to the corresponding repair shop basedon the phone number of the repair shop which is personally obtained bythe customer regardless of the accident point of the car.

[0008] However, in case of a plan for a customer to use a taxi using thecurrent taxi call service, since the customer can be connected to a taxidriver by the medium of a consultant, it becomes necessary to identifythe current location of the customer by making another call to the taxidriver. Thus, there is a problem that the number of calls for containingthe customer is unnecessarily increased, and that it takes a long timefrom the customer's request for calling a taxi until the point of timeto ride the taxi.

[0009] In addition, in case of such a taxi call service, since thisservice is operated in a closed manner in unit of a taxi company, anumber of taxis owned by the corresponding taxi company is limited,while the positions of customers requesting for the taxi call serviceare distributed extensively. Thus, there occurs a problem that theregions in which the taxi call service is available are restricted.

[0010] Morever, in case of the current car rental service, the customercan contact to a rental service company through a phone number obtainedfrom an advertisement or telephone directory regardless of the positionof the customer, it is disadvantageous in that it takes a long time fromthe request for a car rental until the practical use of the car.

[0011] Furthermore, so that the customer can contact to a repair shopfor repairing and inspecting an accident-occurred car, the repair shopof the phone number obtained personally by the corresponding customer isusually used regardless of the accident point of the corresponding car.Thus, there is a problem that it takes a long time until the repairservice of the car by the repair shop, and that a traffic jam is causedby a long time negligence of the accident-occurred car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork in which a customer who wants to use a transportation service isdirectly connected to a transportation means through variouscommunication network, in a state that a plurality of a transportationmeans is managed widely as a state capable of communicating always,thereby capable of implementing a transportation service rapidly andexactly.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor processing transportation information using a communication networkin which a customer who wants to use a transportation service isdirectly connected to a transportation means through variouscommunication network, in a state that a plurality of a transportationmeans is managed widely as a state capable of, communicating always,thereby capable of implementing a transportation service rapidly andexactly.

[0014] It is also another object of the present invention to provide asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork in which the position of a customer who wants to use atransportation service and a transportation means which travels in areasadjacent to the position of the customer can be, detected automatically,thereby performing a service connection rapidly by the transportationmeans to the customer.

[0015] It is also another object of the present invention to provide amethod for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork in which the position of a customer who wants to use atransportation service and a transportation means which travels in areasadjacent to the position of the customer can be detected automatically,thereby performing a service connection rapidly by the transportationmeans to the customer.

[0016] It is also another object of the present invention to provide asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork which automatically identifies the position of a customer whowants to use a transportation service and provides information oncustomer's position to a transportation means, thereby capable ofidentifying the position of the customer rapidly.

[0017] It is also another object of the present invention to provide amethod for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork which automatically identifies the position of a customer whowants to use a transportation service and provides information oncustomer's position to a transportation means, thereby capable ofidentifying the position of the customer rapidly.

[0018] It is also another object of the present invention to provide amethod for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork which can provide the shortest time mass transportation routsinformation on a route to the destination of a customer who wants tomove by the request of information about the mass transportation route.

[0019] To achieve the above object, there is provided a system forprocessing transportation information using a communication networkcomprising a customer communication means for performing a direct callconnection to a transportation vehicle by the operation of a customerwho wants to use a transportation service through the transportationvehicle; a plurality of communication means for transportation vehiclesprovided with the transportation vehicle for providing a transportationservice for performing a direct call connection with the customercommunication means; an information database means for storingsubscriber information on the plurality of transportation vehicles andcommunication means of transportation vehicles, connection historyinformation of the communication means of each transportation vehicleand information on a charge as a cost for service of the customercommunication means; a host server means in which when connecting thecustomer communication means for using the transportation service, it isoperated such that the customer communication means makes a direct callconnection to the communication means of the transportation vehiclessequentially according to the predetermined order based on thesubscriber information and the connection history information in theinformation database means; and a data relay means for performing adirect call connection to the customer communication means by calling apredetermined communication means of a transportation vehicle accordingto the call command by the host server means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the overall construction of a systemfor processing transportation information using a communication networkaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processingtransportation information using a communication network according tothe first embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the overall construction of a systemfor processing transportation information using a communication networkaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 4 is flow chart illustrating a method for processingtransportation information using a communication network according tothe second embodiment of the present invention:

[0025]FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the overall construction of a systemfor processing transportation information using a communication networkaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 6 is a view illustrating one example of searching for thelocation of a customer through a vehicle navigation apparatus accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the overall construction of a systemfor processing transportation information using a communication networkaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 8 is a view illustrating one example of searching for thelocation of a customer through a messaging service according to thefourth embodiment of the present: invention;

[0029]FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the overall construction of a systemfor processing transportation information using a communication networkaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the overall construction of asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 11 is a view illustrating one example of searching for masstransportation information on a route to the destination of a customeraccording to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processingtransportation information using a communication network according tothe sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the overall construction of asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 14 is a view illustrating the overall construction of asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;and

[0035]FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the overall construction of asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] That is, FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the overall constructionof a system for processing transportation information using acommunication network according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 1. In the first embodiment of the presentinvention, to receive transportation services by various transportationmeans, such as a taxi call service, a repair shop's car transfer servicefor an accident-occurred car, a car rental service, a door-to-doordelivery service by a delivery vehicle, when a customer attempts to makea call to the phone number assigned for the corresponding transportationservice through wired/wireless telephone means or internet telephonemeans, a host server establishes a direct call connection to acommunication means of the customer sequentially with respect to mobilecommunication terminals provided at a plurality of transportation meanssubscribed for the transportation service.

[0039] In the same drawing, a customer mobile communication terminal MP1is configured to make a call connection to a host server HSV1 wirelesslyvia a wireless communication network by dialing the phone numberassigned to a transportation service by a transportation means. Byestablishing a direct call connection to a mobile communication terminalof a predetermined transportation means by the host server HSV1, it ispossible to execute information exchange for a transportation contractwith a driver of the corresponding transportation means.

[0040] A wired communication terminal TP1 is configured to make a callconnection to the host server HSV1 by wire via a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) by dialing the phone number assigned to thetransportation service by the transportation means. By establishing adirect call connection to a mobile communication terminal of apredetermined transportation means by the host server HSV1, it ispossible to execute information exchange for a transportation contractwith a driver of the corresponding transportation means.

[0041] In addition, a network computer NC1 is provided with a wire orwireless modem for network communication and a dedicated web browserprogram. When the network computer NC1 performs a request for thetransportation service by the transportation means by connecting to aweb site for an internet phone service via the internet communicationnetwork or connecting to the internet phone service provided at the hostserver HSV1, a direct call connection to the mobile communicationterminal of the predetermined transportation means is made by the hostserver HSV1, for thereby achieving information exchange for atransportation contract with a driver of the correspondingtransportation means.

[0042] Here, to establish a direct call connection to the mobilecommunication terminal of the transportation means by using the networkcomputer NC1, it is necessary that a gateway equipment for data exchangeof the internet and a general telephone network is required in theinternet communication network and in the wireless communication networkformed at the mobile communication terminal of the transportation means.

[0043] In the same drawing, mobile communication terminals A1 through Anprovided at a plurality of transportation means can exchange informationfor transportation contract by voice by making a direct call connectionto the communication means of a predetermined customer relayed from thehost server HSV1 via a wireless communication network.

[0044] In addition, an information database DB1 stores subscriberinformation on the plurality of transportation means and vehicle numbersand phone numbers for the mobile communication terminals Al through Anprovided at each of the plurality of transportation means, storesconnection history information of the mobile communication terminalsprovided at the plurality of transportation means for making a directcall connection to a customer sequentially, and stores information on acharge as a cost for receiving the transportation service by thetransportation means via the communication network.

[0045] In the same drawing, when the host server HSV1 makes a wire callconnection to the customer mobile communication terminal MP1 via thewireless communication network, makes a wire call connection to thewired communication terminal TP1 via the public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN), or makes a call connection to the network computer NC1by an internet phone via the internet communication network, it isoperated such that the communication means of the customer makes adirect call connection sequentially to the plurality of mobilecommunication terminals A1 through An based on the subscriberinformation on the transportation means and the connection historyinformation in the information database DB1.

[0046] In addition, a data relay apparatus DC1 performs relay processingfor a direct call connection to the communication means of the customerby calling a predetermined one of the mobile communication terminals A1through An provided at the plurality of transportation means via thewireless communication network according to the command of the directcall connection by the host server HSV1.

[0047] Here, in case of calling a mobile communication terminaldesignated by the host server HSV1, if it is expected that a direct callconnection to the customer is not achieved because the correspondingmobile communication terminal is busy or the power is turned off, thedata relay apparatus DC1 transmits call failure information to the hostserver HSV1. Then, the host server HSV1 performs the calling of themobile communication terminal of the next order of the mobilecommunication terminal whose calling has been failed when the callfailure information is received.

[0048] Meanwhile, the host server HSV1 can impose a charge for thetransportation means of the customer who has made a call to the phonenumber assigned to the corresponding service in order to request for thetransportation service by the transportation means by making a businessco-operation contract with a communication service company such as KoreaTelecom.

[0049] Meanwhile, the plurality of mobile communication terminals A1through An can transmit empty vehicle information representing whetherthere exists an empty vehicle of each transportation means or not to thehost server HSV1 via the wireless communication network and the datarelay apparatus DC1 by the operation of a special functional button. Thehost server HSV1 enables a direct call connection to the customer bygiving an effective function of the transportation service only to themobile communication terminal that has transmitted the empty vehicleinformation among the plurality of mobile communication terminals A1through An.

[0050] Continuously, the operation according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention will be described in detail with reference to theflow chart of FIG. 2.

[0051] As illustrated in the flow chart of FIG. 2, the first embodimentof the present invention will be described by taking an example of ataxi call service serving as a transportation service by atransportation means.

[0052] Firstly, a customer who wants to ride a taxi connects to the hostserver HSV1 via a wireless communication network by dialing the phonenumber assigned to the taxi call service by operating the customermobile communication terminal MP1, connects to the host server HSV1 viathe public switched telephone network (PSTN) by operating the wiredcommunication terminal TP1, or connects to the host server HSV1according to an internet phone function via the internet communicationnetwork by operating the network computer NC1 (in step S10). Then, thehost server HSV1 performs the calling of the mobile communicationterminal provided at the taxi of a predetermined order by referring tosubscriber information on a plurality of taxis and connection historyinformation of the mobile communication terminals A1 through An providedat the plurality of taxis (in step S11).

[0053] Here, the host server HSV1 Judges whether or not a direct callconnection is made by the data relay apparatus DC1 between thetransportation means of the customer and the mobile communicationterminal of the corresponding order (in step S12).

[0054] As the result of judging, if it is judged that a direct callconnection to the transportation means of the customer is not made asthe calling of the terminal is not achieved because the mobilecommunication terminal of the corresponding order is busy or the poweris turned off, the host server HSV1 calls the mobile communicationterminal provided at the taxi of the next order by referring to theinformation stored in the information database DB1 (in step S13). Then,the routine returns to the step S12 for repeating the step of judgingwhether or not a direct call connection to the transportation means ofthe customer is made.

[0055] Nevertheless, it is preferred that the host server HSV1 can makea direct call connection to the transportation means of the customereffectively only with respect to the mobile communication terminal thathas already transmitted the empty vehicle information among theplurality of mobile communication terminals A1 through An.

[0056] Meanwhile, according to the result of judging, if it is judgedthat a direct call connection is made between the transportation meansof the customer and the mobile communication terminal provided at thetaxi of the corresponding order, the host server HSV1 enables theexchange of voice calls or character data by making a direct callconnection between the customer mobile communication terminal MP1, thewired communication terminal TP1 or the network computer NC1 and themobile communication terminal of the taxi (in step S14).

[0057] In this state, the taxi with the corresponding mobilecommunication terminal performs a service of transportation to thedestination of the customer, in the condition that a contract with thecustomer has been made via the communication network (in step S15). Thehost server HSV1 performs the calculation of the charge for the taxicall service with respect to the customer mobile communication terminalMP1, the wireless communication terminal TP1, or the network computerNC1 (in step S16).

[0058] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] In other words, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the overallconstruction of a system for processing transportation information usinga communication network according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 3, according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention, in a state that trip position information of thetransportation means detected through a GPS satellite is received fromthe host server when a certain customer attempts a call connection forrequesting a transportation service by the transportation means, thetransportation means being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer is detected based on the position informationof the customer transmitted from the communication means of thecustomer. Thus, the transportation means being on a trip in adjacentareas and the customer establish a direct call connection via thecommunication network for thereby achieving information exchange for atransportation contract.

[0061] In the same drawing, the customer mobile communication terminalMP2 is provided with a function for receiving position informationtransmitted from the GPS satellite SAT1 and transmitting the positioninformation of the corresponding terminal to the other party via awireless communication network, and is configured to connect to the hostserver HSV2 via the wireless communication network by dialing the phonenumber assigned to the transportation service by the transportationmeans and to wirelessly transmit the customer position information ofthe terminal received from the GPS satellite SAT1. When thetransportation means being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer with the corresponding mobile communicationterminal MP2 is detected based on the customer position informationaccording to the GPS satellite SAT1 by the host server HSV2, a directcall connection to the mobile communication terminal of thetransportation means is established for thereby achieving informationexchange for a transportation contract.

[0062] In addition, the wired communication terminal TP2 is configuredto connect to the host server HSV2 via the public switched telephonenetwork by dialing the phone number assigned to the transportationservice by the transportation means. When the current positioninformation of the customer is transmitted through an automatic voiceresponse service (ARS) by me host server HSV2, a direct call connectionto the transportation means being on a trip in areas adjacent to thecurrent position of the corresponding customer is automaticallyestablished for thereby achieving information exchange for atransportation contract.

[0063] Here, it is possible to identify the position for the wiredcommunication terminal TP2 through user information of the phone numberowned by a billing computer in a telephone exchange included in thepublic switched telephone network, that is, the phone number assigned tothe corresponding wired communication terminal TP2. When the userinformation is transmitted from the billing computer of the telephoneexchange to the host server HSV2, the host server HSV2 can identify thecurrent position of the wired communication terminal TP2 by referring tothe addresses contained in the user information.

[0064] In the same drawing, the network computer NC2 is configured toconnect to the host server HSV2 via the internet communication networkby dialing the phone number assigned to the transportation service bythe transportation means through the internet telephone function. Whenthe position information of the customer is transmitted in the form ofweb mail by connecting to the web site constructed at the host serverHSV2, a voice call is made through the transportation means being on atrip in areas adjacent to the current position of the correspondingcustomer and the internet telephone function for thereby achievinginformation exchange for a transportation contract.

[0065] Meanwhile, the information database DB2 stores subscriberinformation on the plurality of transportation means and vehicle numbersand phone numbers for the mobile communication terminals B1 through Bnprovided at each of the plurality of transportation means, updates andstores the trip position information received from the mobilecommunication terminals B1 through Bn of each transportation means everypredetermined periods of time, and stores information on a charge as acost for receiving the transportation service by the transportationmeans via the communication network.

[0066] When the host server HSV2 detects the current position of thecustomer through customer position information received from thecustomer mobile communication terminal MP2 by the GPS satellite SAT1 viathe wireless communication terminal, the transportation means being on atrip in areas most adjacent to the current position of the customer issearched for based on the subscriber information of the informationdatabase DB2 and the trip position information on the plurality oftransportation means, for thereby establishing a direct call connectionbetween the mobile communication terminal of the transportation meansbeing on a trip in the adjacent area and the customer mobilecommunication terminal.

[0067] In addition, when the automatic voice response system fordetecting the position information of the customer is constructed and acall connection to the wireless communication terminal TP2 is made viathe public switched telephone network PSTN, the host server HSV2receives the position information of the customer by starting theservice of the automatic voice response system ARS and a direct callconnection between the corresponding transportation means and thecustomer is established by detecting the transportation means being on atrip in areas adjacent to the current position of the customer based onthe position information of the customer.

[0068] Here, the host server HSV2 has the function of identifying theposition of the corresponding wireless communication terminal TP2 bychecking the address of the user by receiving user information on thephone number of the wireless communication terminal TP2 from the billingcomputer of the telephone exchange network contained in the publicswitched telephone network, as well as the function of inputtingposition information using the automatic voice response system.

[0069] In addition, with respect to the host server HSV2, the positioninformation of the customer is received via the internet communicationnetwork and, at the same time, the web site having an internet phonefunction is constructed. Then, when the network computer NC2 transmitsthe position information of the customer in the form of web mail byconnecting to the web site via the internet communication network, thetransportation means being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer is detected based on the position information,for thereby establishing a direct call connection between thetransportation means being on a trip in the adjacent areas and thecustomer.

[0070] In the same drawing, the data relay apparatus DC2 performs relayprocessing for a direct call connection with the communication means ofthe customer by calling the mobile communication terminal of thetransportation means being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer among those mobile communication terminals B1through Bn provided at the plurality of transportation means via thewireless communication network according to the command of the directcall connection by the host server HSV2.

[0071] Here, in case of calling a mobile communication terminaldesignated by the host server HSV2, if it is expected that a direct callconnection to the customer is not achieved because the correspondingmobile communication terminal is busy or the power is turned off, thedata relay apparatus DC2 transmits call failure information to the hostserver HSV1. At this time, the host server HSV2 performs the calling ofthe mobile communication terminal of another transportation means beingon a trip in areas adjacent to the current position of the customer, inplace of the transportation means having the mobile communicationterminal whose calling has been failed.

[0072] In the same drawing, the mobile communication terminals B1through Bn provided at the plurality of transportation means have thefunction of wirelessly transmitting the position information receivedfrom the GPS satellite SAT2 via the wireless communication network,transmit the position information of the GPS satellite SAT2 serving asthe trip position information of the corresponding transportation meansvia the wireless communication network at any time even in the statethat the call is off, and enables the exchange of voice calls and databy a direct call connection to the communication means of the customervia the wireless communication network.

[0073] Moreover, the plurality of mobile communication terminals B1through Bn are signally connected to a plurality of trip meters D1through Dn provided at each of the transportation means by the medium ofa plurality of interface apparatuses C1 through Cn. The plurality oftrip meters D1 through Dn serve as taxi meters in a case that thecorresponding transportation means is, for example, a taxi, andgenerates the value of a trip fare estimated by accumulating thedistance and time of the trip in the state that the customer has got aride into the taxi as an electrical trip signal. The plurality ofinterface apparatuses C1 through Cn performs the processing ofconverting the trip signal generated from each of the trip meters D1through Dn into data of the transmittable format.

[0074] Here, as a certain customer rides into the taxi and the tripmeters D1 through Dn are operated, the plurality of mobile communicationterminals B1 through Bn receive the trip data through each of theinterface apparatuses C1 through Cn according to the trip fare generatedfrom each trip meter D1 through Dn at the point of time that thetransportation of the customer is finished, and provides them to thehost server HSV2 through the wireless communication terminal and thedata relay apparatus DC2.

[0075] The host server HSV2 estimates the trip fare by analyzing thetrip data of each transportation means transmitted from the plurality ofmobile communication terminals B1 through Bn, and differently imposesfares of the transportation service by the transportation means of thecustomer according to the amount of the trip fare.

[0076] Meanwhile, the plurality of mobile communication terminals B1through Bn can transmit empty vehicle information representing whetherthere exists an empty vehicle of each transportation means or not to thehost server HSV2 via the wireless communication network and the datarelay apparatus DC2 by the operation of a special functional button. Thehost server HSV2 enables a direct call connection to the customer bygiving an effective function of the transportation service only to themobile communication terminal that has transmitted the empty vehicleinformation among the plurality of mobile communication terminals B1through Bn.

[0077] Each of the mobile communication terminals B1 through Bntransmits the empty vehicle information along with a specific codeinformation representing the trip area of the transportation vehiclewhen transmitting the empty vehicle information to the host server HSV2.For example, in the case that the transportation vehicle is a taxi andthe trip area is limited to the lncheon area, a specific codeinformation representing the Incheon area is stored in the mobilecommunication terminal provided at the transportation vehicle.

[0078] Furthermore, after a direct call connection is establishedbetween the customer mobile communication terminal MP2 and the mobilecommunication terminal installed at a predetermined transportation meansfor the purpose of information exchange for the execution of thetransportation service, if it is detected that the position informationtransmitted from the customer mobile communication terminal MP2 and themobile communication terminal of the transportation means by the GPSsatellites SAT1 and SAT2 are identical or similar to each other for apredetermined time, the host server HSV2 judges that the customer usesthe transportation service with respect to the correspondingtransportation means and then determines the trip fare received from thetrip meter of the transportation means to be a charge for thetransportation service.

[0079] Next, the operation according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention will now be described in detail with reference to theflow chart of FIG. 4.

[0080] As illustrated in the flow chart of FIG. 4, the second embodimentof the present invention will be described by taking an example of ataxi call service serving as a transportation service by atransportation means.

[0081] Firstly, the host server HSV2 receives trip position informationby the GPS satellite SAT2 transmitted from the mobile communicationterminals B1 through Bn provided at each of a plurality of taxis throughthe date relay apparatus DC2 and the wireless communication network, andupdates and stores them in the information database DB2 everypredetermined periods of time, for example, five minutes (in step S20).

[0082] In addition, the host server HSV2 is provided with an effectivefunction of the taxi call service with respect to the mobilecommunication terminal that transmits empty vehicle information amongthe plurality of mobile communication terminals B1 through Bn, forthereby enabling a direct call connection to the communication means ofthe customer only with respect to the corresponding mobile communicationterminal.

[0083] In this state, a customer who wants to ride a taxi connects tothe host server HSV2 via a wireless communication network by dialing thephone number assigned to the taxi call service by operating the customermobile communication terminal MP2, connects to the host server HSV2 viathe public switched telephone network (PSTN) by operating the wiredcommunication terminal TP2, or connects to the web site constructed atthe host server HSV2 via the internet communication network by operatingthe network computer NC2 (in step S21).

[0084] At this time, the host server HSV2 receives customer positioninformation, by the GPS satellite SAT1 transmitted from the customermobile communication terminal MP2, receives the position information ofthe corresponding customer by the operation of the mobile communicationterminal TP2 by operating a self-constructed automatic voice responsesystem ARS, or receives the customer position information in the form ofweb mail on the web site by the network computer NC2(in step S22).

[0085] Meanwhile, the host server HSV2 detects the current position ofthe corresponding customer through the position information transmittedfrom the communication means of the customer and then detects a taxi ona trip in areas adjacent to the current position of the customer basedon the subscriber information and trip position information of the taxiin the information database DB2, for thereby calling the mobilecommunication terminal of the corresponding taxi through the data relayapparatus DC2 (in step S23

[0086] Here, the host server HSV2 judges whether or not it is possibleto establish a direct call connection between the mobile communicationterminal of the taxi on a trip in areas adjacent to the current positionof the customer and the communication means of the customer (in stepS24).

[0087] As the result of judging, if it is judged that a direct callconnection to the transportation means of the customer is impossiblebecause the mobile communication terminal of the taxi is busy or thepower is turned off, the host server HSV2 attempts a direct callconnection to the mobile communication terminal of another taxi on atrip in areas adjacent to the current position of the customer byinquiring the information stored in the information database DB2 (instep S25).

[0088] After the execution of the step S25, the routine returns to thestep S24 and executes the step of re-judging whether a direct callconnection is possible between the mobile communication terminal of thetaxi that has attempted the call connection and the communication meansof the customer.

[0089] Meanwhile, according to the result of judging in the step S24, ifit is judged that a direct call connection is possible between themobile communication terminal of the taxi and the communication means ofthe customer, the host server HSV2 enables the exchange of voice callsor character data by making a direct call connection between thecustomer mobile communication terminal MP2, the wired communicationterminal TP2 or the network computer NC2 and the mobile communicationterminal of the corresponding taxi (in step S26).

[0090] Next, the taxi at which the exchange of information on a taxiride is achieved by a direct call connection with the customer picks upthe customer and execute a trip to a desired destination. The trip meterinstalled at the corresponding taxi accumulates the distance and time ofthe trip and estimates the taxi fare (in step S27).

[0091] At this time, a trip signal from the trip meter is converted intodata through the interface apparatus and is transmitted to the mobilecommunication terminal of the corresponding taxi. Then, as the trip dataproduced by the trip meter is transmitted to the host server HSV2 by themobile communication terminal through the wireless communication networkand the data relay, the host server HSV2 obtains the trip data from themobile communication terminal (in step S28).

[0092] Therefore, the host server HSV2 estimates the charge of the taxiaccording to the trip data received from the trip meter through themobile communication terminal of the taxi, and differentially calculatesthe charge of the taxi call service by the taxi according to the amountof the trip fare (in step S29).

[0093] Nevertheless, with respect to the host server HSV2, if it isjudged that the position information by the GPS satellite SAT1transmitted from the mobile communication terminal MP2 among thecommunication means of the customer is identical or similar to theposition information from the GPS satellite SAT2 transmitted from themobile communication terminal of the taxi that has made a direct callconnection to the mobile communication terminal MP2, it is consideredthat the customer has got a ride into the taxi and uses the taxi callservice, for thereby processing the trip data transmitted from the tripmeter of the corresponding taxi through the mobile communicationterminal as an effective charge for the taxi call service.

[0094] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thatis, FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the overall construction of a systemfor processing transportation information using a communication networkaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention. The samereference numerals are used for the elements actually similar to thoseof the second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3,and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0095] As illustrated in FIG. 5, according to the third embodiment, in astate that the host server has received the trip position information ofthe transportation means detected through the GPS satellite, when thecustomer attempts a call connection for requesting the transportationservice by the transportation means through various communication means,a direct call connection is established between the transportation meansbeing on a trip in adjacent areas and the customer by detecting thetransportation means being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer based on the position information transmittedfrom the communication means of the customer, for thereby achievinginformation exchange for a transportation contract. Then, theinformation is provided such that the current position of thecorresponding customer is visually displayed through a navigationapparatus installed in the transportation means based on the positioninformation of the customer.

[0096] In the same drawing, when the host server HSV3 detects thecurrent position of the customer by connecting to the customer mobilecommunication terminal MP2 via the wireless communication terminal andreceiving the position information of the customer by the GPS satelliteSAT1, the transportation means being on a trip in areas most adjacent tothe current position of the customer is searched for based on thesubscriber information of the information database DB2 and the tripposition information on the plurality of transportation means, forthereby establishing a direct call connection between the mobilecommunication terminal of the transportation means being on a trip inthe adjacent area and the customer mobile communication terminal.

[0097] In addition, when the automatic voice response system fordetecting the position information of the customer is constructed and acall connection to the wireless communication terminal TP2 is made viathe public switched telephone network PSTN, the host server HSV3receives the position information of the customer by starting theservice of the automatic voice response system ARS and a direct callconnection between the corresponding transportation means and thecustomer is established by detecting the transportation means being on atrip in areas adjacent to the current position of the customer based onthe position information of the customer.

[0098] Here, the host server HSV3 has the function of identifying theposition of the corresponding wireless communication terminal TP2 bychecking the address of the user by receiving user information on thephone number of the wireless communication terminal TP2 from the billingcomputer of the telephone exchange network contained in the publicswitched telephone network, as well as the function of inputtingposition information using the automatic voice response system.

[0099] In addition, with respect to the host server HSV3, the positioninformation of the customer is received via the internet communicationnetwork and, at the same time, the web site having an internet phonefunction is constructed. Then, when the network computer NC2 transmitsthe position information of the customer in the form of web mail byconnecting to the web site via the internet communication network, thetransportation means being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer is detected based on the position information,for thereby establishing a direct call connection between thetransportation means being on a trip in the adjacent areas and thecustomer.

[0100] Meanwhile, the host server HSV3 creates a map position data basedon the position information of the customer detected by thecommunication means of the customer, and provides the map position datato the transportation means being service in areas most adjacent to thecurrent position of the customer.

[0101] In the same drawing, the information database DB3 storessubscriber information on the plurality of transportation means andvehicle numbers and phone numbers for the mobile communication terminalsE1 through En provided at each of the plurality of transportation means,updates and stores the trip position information received from themobile communication terminals E1 through En of each transportationmeans every predetermined periods of time, stores map information datafor creating the map position data on the position information of thecustomer and stores information on a charge as a cost for receiving thetransportation service by the transportation means via the communicationnetwork.

[0102] In the same drawing, the mobile communication terminals E1through En provided at the plurality of transportation means have thefunction of wirelessly transmitting the position information receivedfrom the GPS satellite SAT2 via the wireless communication network,transmit the position information of the GPS satellite SAT2 serving asthe trip position information of the corresponding transportation meansvia the wireless communication network at any time even in the statethat the call is off, and enables the exchange of voice calls and databy a direct call connection to the communication means of the customervia the wireless communication network.

[0103] Moreover, the plurality of mobile communication terminals E1through En are signally connected to a plurality of vehicle navigationapparatuses G1 through Gn by the medium of a plurality of datainterfaces F1 through Fn, and then they receive the map position data ofthe customers provided from the host server HSV3 via the wirelesscommunication terminal and converts them through the data interfaces F1through Fn for thereby visually displaying the current position of thecorresponding customer on an electronic map reproduced on a displayscreen of the vehicle navigation apparatuses G1 through Gn.

[0104] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 6, with respect to the pluralityof vehicle navigation apparatuses G1 through Gn, in a state that a firstdisplay symbol 2 representing the current trip position of thecorresponding transportation means is visually displayed on theelectronic map of the display screen based on the position informationfrom the GPS satellite SAT2, a second display symbol 4 representing thecurrent position of the customer is displayed on the electronic map ofthe display screen based on a coordinate information contained in themap position data of the customer received from the mobile communicationterminals E1 through En by the medium of the data interfaces F1 throughFn.

[0105] According to the third embodiment of the present invention, thetransportation service by the transportation means will be described bytaking an example of a taxi call service by a taxi. The host server HSV3identifies the current trip position of each taxi by receiving the tripposition information by the GPS satellite through the mobilecommunication terminals E1 through En provided at a plurality of taxis.

[0106] In this state, a customer who wants to ride a taxi connects tothe host server HSV3 via a wireless communication network by dialing thephone number assigned to the taxi call service by operating the customermobile communication terminal MP2, connects to the host server HSV3 viathe public switched telephone network (PSTN) by operating the wiredcommunication. terminal TP2, or connects to the web site constructed atthe host server HSV3 via the internet communication network by operatingthe network computer NC2. Then, the host server HSV3 receives customerposition information by the GPS satellite SAT1 transmitted from thecustomer mobile communication terminal MP2, receives the positioninformation of be corresponding customer by the operation of the mobilecommunication terminal TP2 by operating a self-constructed automaticvoice response system ARS, or receives the customer position informationin the form of web mail on the web site by the network computer NC2.

[0107] Meanwhile, in the state of detecting the current position of thecorresponding customer through the position information received fromthe communication means of the customer, the host server HSV3 extractsinformation on the taxi being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer by inquiring the information stored in theinformation database DB3 and then creates map position data for visuallydisplay the current position of the customer based on the positioninformation of the customer.

[0108] Along with this, the host server HSV3 makes the communicationmeans of the customer and the mobile communication terminal of the taxiestablish a direct call connection by calling the mobile communicationterminal of the taxi being on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer, and then transmits the map position data withthe position information of the customer to the mobile communicationterminal of the taxi.

[0109] Hence, the map position data received through the mobilecommunication terminal of the taxi is inputted into the vehiclenavigation apparatus of the taxi by the medium of the data interface andis visually displayed on the electronic map of the display screen.

[0110] Accordingly, the transportation means can identify the currentposition of the customer visually indicated at the vehicle navigationapparatus G1 through Gn, and can go and pick up the customer within theshortest time along the path indicated on the electronic map.

[0111] Here, after a direct call connection is established between thecustomer mobile communication terminal MP2 and the mobile communicationterminal installed at a predetermined transportation means for thepurpose of information exchange for the execution of the transportationservice, if it is detected that the position information transmittedfrom the customer mobile communication terminal MP2 and the mobilecommunication terminal of the transportation means by the GPS satellitesSAT1 and SAT2 is disposed at the same position for a predetermined time,the host server HSV3 judges that the customer uses the transportationservice with respect to the corresponding transportation means and thendetermines the trip fare received from the trip meter of thetransportation means to be a fare serving as a cost for using thetransportation service.

[0112] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0113] That is, FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the overall constructionof a system for processing transportation information using acommunication network according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0114] As illustrated in FIG. 7, according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention, when a customer who wants to use a transportationservice of the transportation mean attempts a direct call connection toa predetermined transportation means by using a mobile communicationterminal, the host server identifies the current position of thecustomer based on the position information of the mobile communicationterminal of the customer detected from the wireless communicationnetwork, and then identifies the trip position of the correspondingtransportation means by detecting the position of the mobilecommunication terminal provided at a plurality of transportation means,for thereby establishing a direct call connection between the customerand the transportation means on a trip in areas adjacent to the currentposition of the customer while transmitting character data for visuallyindicating the position of the corresponding customer to the mobilecommunication terminal of the transportation means according to theposition information of the customer.

[0115] In the same drawing, a customer mobile communication terminal MP3connects to the host server HSV4 via the wireless communication networkby dialing the phone number assigned to the transportation service bythe transportation means and makes a direct call connection to themobile communication terminal of a predetermined transportation meanscalled by the host server HSV4, for thereby achieving informationexchange for a transportation contract.

[0116] A mobile communication base station 10 constituting the mobilecommunication network identifies the position of the correspondingcustomer mobile communication terminal by exchanging high frequencysignals with the customer mobile communication terminal MP3 andtransmits the identified position information on the customer mobilecommunication terminal MP3 to a mobile communication exchange 14 by themedium of a mobile communication relay 12.

[0117] The mobile communication exchange 14 provides the positioninformation on the customer mobile communication terminal MP3transmitted from the mobile communication base station 10 to the hostserver HSV4.

[0118] In the same drawing, a plurality of mobile communicationterminals H1 through Hn provided at a plurality of transportation meansproceeds a voice call by making a direct call connection to the customermobile communication terminal MP3 by means of a speech call by the hostserver HSV4, and receives character data according to the positioninformation of the customer transmitted from the host server HSV4 viathe wireless communication terminal and visually displays them on adisplay unit.

[0119] A plurality of mobile communication relays I1 through Inconstituting the mobile communication network identifies the currentposition of a plurality of mobile communication terminal H1 through Hnby exchanging high frequency signals with each of the mobilecommunication terminals H1 through Hn and transmits the positioninformation on the plurality of mobile communication terminals H1through Hn to a mobile communication exchange 18 by the medium of amobile communication relay 16.

[0120] The mobile communication exchange 18 provides the positioninformation on each mobile communication terminal H1 through Hn receivedfrom each of the mobile communication terminals I1 through In throughthe mobile communication relay 16 to the host server HSV4 through thedata relay apparatus DC4.

[0121] In a state that the host server HSV4 is connected to the customermobile communication terminal MP3 through the mobile communication basestation 10, the mobile communication relay 12 and the mobilecommunication exchange 14, the host server HSV4 identifies the currentposition of the corresponding customer based on the position informationof the corresponding customer mobile communication terminal MP3 detectedby the mobile communication base station 10. Then, the host server HSV4calls the mobile communication terminal of the correspondingtransportation means by extracting the information of the transportationmeans on a trip in areas adjacent to the current position of thecustomer according to the information stored in the information databaseDB4 and generates character data indicating the position of thecorresponding customer according to the position information of thecustomer mobile communication terminal to thus transmit them to themobile communication terminal of the transportation means.

[0122] Here, with respect to the host server HSV4, when the currentposition of the customer mobile communication terminal MP3 is detectedby the mobile communication base station 10, an announcement messageinquiring the corresponding customer mobile communication terminal MP3of the permission of position detection through the mobile communicationexchange 14 is transmitted in the form of character information (forexample, an inquiry message “Are you going to transfer the informationon your current position to a transportation vehicle?”). Then, when keyinput information permitting the position detection from the customermobile communication terminal MP3 is received, character data indicatingthe position of the corresponding customer is transmitted to the mobilecommunication terminal of the transportation means.

[0123] The information database DB4 stores subscriber information on theplurality of transportation means and vehicle numbers and phone numbersfor the mobile communication terminals H1 through Hn provided at each ofthe plurality of transportation means, updates and stores the tripposition information received from the mobile communication terminals H1through Hn of each transportation means every predetermined periods oftime, stores data of geographical character information for creatingcharacter data for the position information of the customer and storesinformation on a charge as a cost for receiving the transportationservice by the transportation means via the communication network.

[0124] Meanwhile, when the mobile communication terminals H1 through Hnprovided at the plurality of transportation means receive character datafor indicating the position of the customer from the host server HSV4,as illustrated in FIG. 4, the name of the region or building at whichthe customer is currently positioned is displayed on its respectivedisplay unit in the form of characters.

[0125] In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the pluralityof mobile communication terminals H1 through Hn can transmit emptyvehicle information representing whether there exists an empty vehicleof each transportation means or not to the host server HSV1 via themobile communication terminals I1 through In, the mobile communicationrelay 16, the mobile communication exchange 18 and the data relayapparatus DC4 by the operation of a special functional button. The hostserver HSV4 makes a direct call connection to customer by giving aneffective function of the transportation service only to the mobilecommunication terminal that has transmitted the empty vehicleinformation among the plurality of mobile communication terminals H1through Hn.

[0126] Furthermore, after a direct call connection is establishedbetween the customer mobile communication terminal MP2 and the mobilecommunication terminal installed at a predetermined transportation meansfor the purpose of information exchange for the execution of thetransportation service, if it is detected that the customer positioninformation on the customer mobile communication terminal and the tripposition information on the mobile communication terminal of thetransportation means each detected from a predetermined mobilecommunication terminal are identical or similar to each other for apredetermined time, the host server HSV2 judges that the customer usesthe transportation service with respect to the correspondingtransportation means and then imposes a charge for the transportationservice.

[0127] Continuously, the operation according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

[0128] In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, thetransportation service by the transportation means will be described bytaking an example of the taxi call service by the taxi.

[0129] Firstly, when the mobile communication terminals H1 through Hnexchanges high frequency signals with each mobile communicationterminals I1 through In even in the state that a call is off, theplurality of mobile communication terminals I1 through In can identifythe current position for each mobile communication terminal H1 at anytime through Hn by the function of exchanging high frequency signals andsuch a position information is transmitted to the data relay apparatusDC4 through the mobile communication relay 18 and the mobilecommunication exchange 18.

[0130] At this time, the mobile communication terminal of the taxi beingon a trip in an empty state for executing the taxi call service amongthe plurality of mobile communication terminals H1 through Hn transmitsempty vehicle information to the host server HSV4 through apredetermined mobile communication base station, the mobilecommunication relay 16, the mobile communication exchange 18 and thedata relay apparatus DC4. The host server HSV4 sets a direct callconnection with the customer mobile communication terminal MP3 to beeffective only with respect to the mobile communication terminal thathas transmitted the empty vehicle information.

[0131] In this state, in a case that a certain customer who wants a taxicall service connects to the host server HSV4 through the mobilecommunication base station 10, the mobile communication relay 12 and themobile communication exchange 14 by operating the customer mobilecommunication terminal MP3, the mobile communication base station 10identifies the current position for the corresponding mobilecommunication terminal MP3 by exchanging high frequency signals with thecustomer mobile communication terminal MP3 and such a positioninformation is transmitted to the host server HSV4 through the mobilecommunication relay 12 and the mobile communication exchange 14.

[0132] In the state that the host server HSV4 is connected to thecustomer mobile communication terminal HSV4 via the wirelesscommunication network, the host server HSV4 identifies the currentposition of the corresponding customer through the position informationon the customer mobile communication terminal MP3 received from themobile communication base station 10, extracts the information of thetaxi being on a trip in areas adjacent to the current position of thecustomer according to the information stored in the information databaseDB4, and then attempts the calling of the mobile communication terminalof the corresponding taxi through the data relay apparatus DC4.

[0133] Along with this, the host server HSV4 generates character dataindicating the position information of the customer according to thegeographical character information of the information database DB4 andthen transmits the character data to the mobile communication terminalof the taxi being on a trip in areas adjacent to the current position ofthe customer through the data relay apparatus DC4.

[0134] Meanwhile, the mobile communication terminal of the taxi being ona trip in areas adjacent to the current position of the customerproceeds a voice call by making a direct call connection to the customermobile communication terminal MP3 through the mobile communicationexchange 18, the mobile communication relay 16 and the mobilecommunication base station according to a call attempt by the data relayapparatus DC4, and simultaneously receives character data indicating thecurrent position of the corresponding customer to thus display themvisually on a display unit.

[0135] Hence, the driver of the tax can identify the current position ofthe corresponding customer rapidly through the character informationdisplayed on the display unit while executing the voice call with thecustomer who wants to use the taxi.

[0136] At this time, if it is detected that the customer positioninformation on the customer mobile communication terminal MP3 detectedthrough a predetermined mobile communication terminal and the tripposition information on the mobile communication terminal provided atthe taxi are identical or similar to each other for a predeterminedtime, the host server HSV4 judges that the customer has got a ride intothe taxi to use the taxi call service for thereby demanding a charge forthe transportation service.

[0137] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0138] That is, FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the overall constructionof a system for processing transportation information using acommunication network according to the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0139] As illustrated in FIG. 9, according to the present invention, abi-directional radio pager is instilled at the transportation meansproviding a predetermined transportation service, the trip position ofeach transportation means is identified through the bi-directional radiopager, and then a message for requesting the transportation service fromthe communication means of the customer is transmitted to thebi-directional radio pager, for thereby enabling a connection betweenthe customer and the service of thee transportation means.

[0140] In the same drawing, the bi-direction radio pager (PG) for thecustomer is provided with a service call function for calling thetransportation service by the transportation means, and connects to ahost server HSV5 via a radio paging network to thus performs a call forrequesting the use of the transportation service.

[0141] Meanwhile, the radio paging network detects the current positionof the customer radio pager (PG) to thus transmit the positioninformation of the customer to the host server HSV5.

[0142] In addition, a customer mobile communication terminal MP4connects to the host server HSV5 via a wireless communication network tothus transmit a message for requesting the transportation service in theform of voice.

[0143] Here, the mobile communication base station provided at thewireless communication network detects the current position of thecustomer mobile communication terminal MP4, and a mobile communicationexchange creates the position information of the customer to thustransmit them to the host server HSV5.

[0144] When the host server HSV5 receives the call for requesting theuse of the transportation service from the customer bi-directional radiopager (PG) and receives the current position information of the customerbi-directional radio pager (PG) via the radio paging network, itsearches for a bi-directional radio pager of the transportation meansbeing on a trip in areas adjacent to the current position of thecustomer and informs the bi-directional radio pager of thetransportation means of the transportation service request informationof the customer and the current position information of the customer bya character message.

[0145] In addition, when the host server HSV5 receives the call forrequesting the use of the transportation service from the customermobile communication terminal MP4 and receives the current positioninformation of the corresponding customer mobile communication terminalMP4 via the wireless communication network, it searches for abi-directional radio pager of the transportation means being on a tripin areas adjacent to the current position of the customer and informsthe bi-directional radio pager of the transportation means of thetransportation service request information of the customer and thecurrent position information of the customer by a character message.

[0146] In the same drawing, the information database DB5 storessubscriber information on the plurality of transportation means andvehicle numbers and phone numbers for the bi-directional radio pagers J1through Jn provided at each of the plurality of transportation means,updates and stores the trip position information received from thebi-directional radio pagers J1 through Jn of each transportation meansevery predetermined periods of time, stores data of characterinformation for creating character data on the position information ofthe customer and stores information on a charge as a cost for receivingthe transportation service by the transportation means via thecommunication network.

[0147] Moreover, in the state that the trip position informationobtained by detecting the current position of each radio pager via theradio paging network is transmitted to the host server HSV5, thebi-directional radio pagers J1 through Jn provided at the transportationmeans receives the message according to the customer's request for theuse of the transportation service and the character message indicatingthe current position of the customer for thereby visually displayingthem on each liquid display screen.

[0148] Here, the plurality of bi-directional radio pagers J1 through Jncan transmit empty vehicle information representing whether there existsan empty vehicle of each transportation means or not to the host serverHSV1 via the wireless communication network and the data relay apparatusDC5 by the operation of a special functional button. The host serverHSV1 enables a direct call connection to the customer by giving aneffective function of the transportation service only to the mobilecommunication terminal that has transmitted the empty vehicleinformation among the plurality of bi-directional radio pagers J1through Jn.

[0149] In addition, in a state that the information of the request forusing the transportation service from the customer bi-directional radiopager (PG) or the customer mobile communication terminal MP4 istransmitted to the bi-directional radio pager installed at apredetermined transportation means, if it is detected that the customerposition information on the customer bi-directional radio pager (PG) orcustomer mobile communication terminal MP4 each detected from the radiopaging network or and the mobile communication terminal base station ofthe wireless network and the trip position information on thebi-directional radio pager of the transportation means are identical orsimilar to each other for a predetermined time, the host server HSV2judges that the customer uses the transportation service with respect tothe corresponding transportation means and then imposes a charge for thetransportation service.

[0150] Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0151]FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the overall construction of asystem for processing transportation information using a communicationnetwork according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0152] As illustrated in FIG. 10, according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention, when a customer who wants to use a masstransportation means such as an urban bus or subway connects to the hostserver via the wireless communication network by using the mobilecommunication terminal or via the internet communication network byusing the network computer and inputs a destination from the currentposition, the host server transmits general route guide information onmass transportation routes from the current position to the destinationwith respect to the customer mobile communication terminal by anautomatic voice response function or character information transferfunction. While the network computer provides the route guideinformation through a dedicated web site in the form of web information.

[0153] In the same drawing, the customer mobile communication terminalMP5 can connect to the host server HSV6 via the wireless communicationnetwork to thus receive the route guide information on the masstransportation route in the form of voice by the automatic voiceresponse system (ARS), or in the form of character information by acharacter information processor TEX.

[0154] Since the automatic voice response system (ARS) can be operatedselectively according to a selective operation of the customer mobilecommunication terminal MP5, the host server HSV6 can process short timetraffic route information from the current position of the customer tothe destination as voice information and transmits them to the customermobile communication terminal MP5.

[0155] In addition, since the character information processor TEX can beoperated selectively apart from the automatic voice response system ARSby selectively operating the customer mobile communication terminal MP5,the traffic route information from the current position of thecorresponding customer to the destination that are produced from thehost server HSV6 are processed into character data to be transmitted tothe customer mobile communication terminal.

[0156] In the same drawing, the network computer NC3 is provided with awired or wireless modem required for an internet connection and abrowser program dedicated to web search, and can connect to the websited constructed at the web server WSV via the internet communicationnetwork and then inquire the short time traffic route information on theroute from the current position and destination of the customer in theform of multimedia information.

[0157] The web server WSV provides the traffic route information on theroute from the current position and destination of the customer who ownsthe network computer in the form of multimedia information such ascharacters, images and voices.

[0158] In the same drawing, an information database DB6 stores variousmass transportation information including routes for transportationmeans such as urban buses, suburban buses, subway and the likedistributed over the cities, provinces and districts of the country, atrip time, a trip fare, a time required and the like.

[0159] In a state that the host server HSV6 is connected to the customermobile communication terminal MP5 via the wireless communication networkor is connected to the network computer NC3 via the internetcommunication network, if the host server HSV6 receives the informationon the route from the current position of the customer to thedestination, it generates route guide information of the masstransportation means capable of moving to the destination in a shorttime according to the mass transportation information stored in theinformation database to thus provide them to the corresponding customer.

[0160] Meanwhile, in a state that a customer wanting to move to apredetermined destination is connected to the host server HSV6 throughthe mobile communication terminal MP5, an announcement messagerequesting for inputting the current position and destination of thecorresponding customer is sent in the automatic voice response method bythe automatic voice response system. Thus, it is possible to identifythe current position and destination name of the corresponding customerby a key code signal of Hangul format combined by a selective operationof a numeric key and a functional key provided at the customer mobilecommunication terminal MP5.

[0161] Here, in a case that the character information processor TEXprocesses the route guide information of the customer provided from thehost server HSV6 in the form of character information, as illustrated inFIG. 11, a bus route, subway route or a combination of bus and subwayroutes by which the movement from the current position of the customerto the destination is achieved within a short time are displayed in theform of characters on a display unit of the customer mobilecommunication terminal MP5, and also additional information such as afare and time required for each transportation means are displayedthereon along with the guide of the mass transportation routes.

[0162] Continuously, the sixth embodiment of the present invention willnow be described in detail with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 12.

[0163] Firstly, a customer who wants to mow to a predetermineddestination by using a transportation means connects to the host serverHSV6 via the wireless communication network by dialing the telephonenumber assigned to the announcement service of the mass transportationroute by operating the mobile communication terminal MP5, or connects tothe web site constructed at the web server WSV via the internet networkby using the network computer NC3 (in step S30).

[0164] In this state, when the customer connects to the host server HSV6through the mobile communication terminal MP5, the host server HSV6requests the customer to select whether he or she is going to inquirethe route guide information of a mass transportation means in theautomatic voice response method or to inquire the same in the form ofcharacter information and sends an announcement message for requestingfor inputting the current position and destination of the customer byvoice.

[0165] Hence, the mobile communication terminal MP5 generates a key codesignal of Hangul format combined by a selective operation of a numerickey and a functional key and then the host server HSV6 can identify fiecurrent position and destination of the customer by the key code signalfrom the mobile communication terminal.

[0166] On the contrary, in a case that the customer connects to the website of the web server WSV by using the network computer NC3, it ispossible to identify the current position and destination of thecorresponding customer by the input information on the current positionand destination inputted on the web site (in step S31).

[0167] Accordingly, the host server HSV6 inquires the information storedin the information database DB6 based on the information on the currentposition and destination of the customer and generates route guideinformation for guiding the best transportation service movable to thedestination within a short time,

[0168] Meanwhile, the host server HSV6 judges whether or not thecustomer executes a selective operation for inquiring the route guideinformation of the mass transportation routes in the automatic voiceresponse method by the automatic voice response system ARS by using themobile communication terminal MP5 (in step S32).

[0169] As the result of judging, if it is detected that the customer hasexecuted a selective operation for requesting for route guideinformation in the automatic voice response method by using the mobilecommunication terminal MP5, the host server HSV6 processes the routeguide information of a mass transportation route in the form of voiceinformation (in step S33), and then sends the same to the customermobile information terminal MP5 via the wireless communication network(in step S34).

[0170] Meanwhile, according to the result of judging in the step S32, ifit is detected that the customer has not executed a selective operationfor requesting for route guide information in the automatic voiceresponse method by using the mobile communication terminal MP5, it isjudged whether or not the selective operation for requesting theinformation in the form of character information by the characterinformation processor TEX (in step S35).

[0171] As the result of judging, if it is detected that the customer hasexecuted a selective operation for requesting for route guideinformation in the form of character information by using the mobilecommunication terminal MP5, the route guide information is convertedinto character data by the character information processor TEX (in stepS36), and it is sent in the form of characters on a display unit of themobile communication terminal MP5 via the wireless communication network(in step S37).

[0172] On the contrary, as the result of judging in the step S35, if itis detected that the customer does not use the mobile communicationterminal MP5, it is judged that the customer connects to the web siteconstructed at the web server WSV via the internet communication networkby operating the network computer NC3. Thus, the host server HSV6processes the route guide information in the form of web information ofmultimedia type (in step S38) and inserts the route guide information ofthe web information form on the web site so that the route guideinformation can be inquired by the network computer NC3 (in step S39).

[0173] As the result, after the execution of the steps S34, S37 and S39,the host server HSV6 estimates a charge for the inquiry of the routeguide information on the mass transportation route with respect to thenetwork computer NC3 (in step S40).

[0174] Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0175] That is, FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the overall constructionof a system for processing transportation information using acommunication network according to a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0176] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the system for processingtransportation information using a communication network according to aseventh embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality oftrip meters L1 through Ln, a plurality of mobile communication terminalequipment M1 through Mn and mobile communication terminals HP1 throughHPn installed at a plurality of transportation vehicles K1 through Knsuch as taxis; a plurality of mobile communication base stations N1through Nn; a mobile communication relay station 20; a mobilecommunication exchange 22; a gateway server 24; a host server HSV7; ageographical information processing server 26; an information databaseDB7; a personal computer terminal 28; and a traffic informationmanagement server.

[0177] In the same drawing, the plurality of trip meters L1 through Lnare configured to estimate a trip fare by calculating the trip time andtrip distance for each transportation means K1 through Kn such as ataxi, and it transmit the information on the trip time and trip distancefor estimating the trip fare to each mobile communication terminal HP1through HPn via each mobile communication terminal M1 through Mn.

[0178] The plurality of mobile communication terminal equipment M1through Mn transmits the information on the trip time and trip distancefrom each trip meter L1 through Ln to each mobile communication terminalHP1 through HPn by connecting each trip meter L1 through Ln and themobile communication terminal HP1 through HPn.

[0179] In addition, the plurality of mobile communication terminals HP1through HPn are provided at each transportation means K1 through Kn.When they receive the information on the trip time and trip distancefrom each trip meter L1 through Ln through the mobile communicationterminal M1 through Mn, the host server HSV7 transmits the informationon the trip time and trip distance wirelessly by executing a callconnection to the phone number assigned to the host server HSV7.

[0180] In the same drawing, the plurality of mobile communication basestations N1 through Nn are arranged and distributed in a plurality ofareas in which the transportation vehicles K1 through Kn can travel andperform information communication wirelessly with each mobilecommunication terminal HP1 through HPn mounted in the correspondingtransportation vehicle K1 through Kn while generating positioninformation by detecting the position of each mobile communicationterminal HP1 through HPn.

[0181] The mobile communication relay station 20 is configured to relayinformation exchanged between the plurality of mobile communication basestations N1 through Nn and the mobile communication exchange 22. Themobile communication exchange 22 executes a call connection to the phonenumber assigned to the host seer HSV7 according to a call connectionattempt of each mobile communication terminal HP1 through HPn andtransmits the information on the trip time and trip distance for eachtransportation means K1 through Kn provided from each mobilecommunication terminal HP1 through HPn and the position information ofthe mobile communication terminal HP1 through HPn detected by the mobilecommunication base station N1 through Nn to the host server HSV7.

[0182] The gateway server 24 is configured to convert the protocol ofinformation data exchanged between the mobile communication exchange 22and the host server HSV7 via the internet communication network.

[0183] The host server HSV7 receives the information on the trip timeand trip distance from each mobile communication terminal HP1 throughHPn transmitted from the mobile communication exchange 22 and theposition information of the mobile communication terminal HP1 throughHPn detected by the mobile communication base station N1 through Nn inthe form of internet web information. The geographical informationprocessing server 26 generates electronic map information in the form ofinternet web information based on the information on the trip time andtrip distance based on the position information of each mobilecommunication terminal HP1 through HPn received from the host serverHSV7 (that is, the position information for each transportation means K1through Kn).

[0184] Here, the electronic map information created by the geographicalinformation processing server 26 are provided in the form ofcharacter/number information so that the average trip speed for vehiclesin each road section and the traffic jam state for each section can bevisually checked according to the position information of the mobilecommunication terminal HP1 through HPn and the data estimated for thetrip time and distance.

18. (Amended) The system of claim 13, wherein the host server meansidentifies whether the transportation service of the customer is used ornot by searching whether the position information by the GPS satellitetransmitted from the customer communication means and the communicationmeans for transportation vehicles is maintained during a constant timeat an adjacent position.